Radiator core guard



Sept. 27, 1966 R. F. SUCHOMEL 3,275,072

RADIATOR CORE GUARD Filed Aug. 14, 1964 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORRAYMOND F. SUCHOMEL ATT'Y Sept. 27, 1966 R. F. SUCHOMEL 3,

RADIATOR CORE GUARD Filed Aug. 14, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 III-2P4INVENTOR RAYMOND F SUCHOMEL 2 ATT'Y United States Patent Ofiice.

3,275,072 Patented Sept. 27, 1966 ware Filed Aug. 14, 1964, Ser. No.389,531

9 Claims. (Cl. 165-134) This invention relates to a vehicle radiatorguard. It

more particularly relates to a radiator core guard which, in distinctionto an external grill or guard bars provided to protect the radiator ofthe vehicle against front end bumping or collision damage, protects theinner face of the radiator core from erosion and damage due toimpingment from flying abrasive particles. Tractor type vehicles,particularly front end loaders of that type, have a radiator fan on theinner side of, and in line with, the radiator core which is provided incon ventional manner at the front end of the vehicle; aforwardly-blowing pusher fan is the preferred radiator fan, instead of aconventional suction fan which would pull the air in a rearwarddirection between the coolant tubes in the core. For one thing, thepusher fan causes hot air leaving the radiator to dischargein a forwarddirection away from the operator, so that he can avoid the discomfort ofthe hot air during warm weather. In the loaders referred to, thesituation would be aggravated by a suction fan, because spillage .anddirt siftingfrom the bucket of the loader would be inducted into therearwardly directed air passing the fan and then be blown at theoperator.

The pusher fan arrangement has disadvantages, One of the chiefdifficulties is dirt, grit, and the like in the air which hit the bladesof the pusher fan and which impact against the radiator core causingabrasion, leakage, and ultimate failure of the cooling system of thevehicle.

An object of my radiator guard invention is to material 1y reduce orsubstantially eliminate the foregoing abrasion and leakage problem.

Another object in line with the foregoing objective is to provide a hardmetal guard not only for protecting the exposed inner or primary row oftubes'in the radiator core, but equally importantly if not more so,forprotesting the cooling fins' in the core which, when eroded away,then expose the secondary and further rows of tubes to abrasion andleakage.

A specific object of my invention is the provision of a.single-layerthick, guard structure for the core .of a radiator, of whichthe thickness is substantially that of a single layer of tubes, andwhich comprises: a plurality of vertical tubes disposed in the singlelayer and made of tubing having flat opposite walls and arranged withtheir major cross-sectional axes so as to be parallel to the di-'rection of air flow through the core; horizontally disposed, verticallyspaced apart fins holding the tubes apart with substantially the centerto center spacing of tubes in the core to be protected; and attachmentbrackets for mounting the structure in a gapped relation inwardly offsetfrom that core.

A more specific object, based upon the objective'just stated, is toprovide guard structure such as the foregoing, for use in a coolingsystem between an outwardly blowing pusher fan and the core of aradiator located on the outer side of the pusher fan, wherein the coreof the radiator comprises nonferr'ous vertical tubes which are softerthan ferrous metal, and nonferrous fins which are softer than ferrousmetal, and wherein ferrous, abrasionresistant tubes are provided in theguard structure and ferrous, abrasion resistant fins are provided in theguard structure. The fixed gap between the guard structure and theradiator core offsets the structure sulficienily to the rear that theguard structure only is in the effective path of and takes the impact ofthe particles. By the time, if at all, at which the particles strikeagainst the more vulnerable, softer radiator core structure, they havespent their major momentum and tendency to cause abrasion.

I have observed that a major portion of the fan-thrown dirt andparticles, especially heavier particles, flies from the downstream faceof the fan blades not directly forwardly in the fore-and-aft directionwhich is taken by the air pushed by the blades. Instead, those particlesare thrown at diagonal angles within a multitude of planes essentiallynormal to the plane of rotation of the fan. Due to the diagonaltrajectory, both the fins and the tubes of a conventional radiator coreare vulnerable to the abrasion of such flying particles. The presentguard creates a large scale rectilinear honeycomb effect which, due tothe depth of the guard, tends to take the direct impact of many if notmost of the diagonally moving particles and thus spares the radiatorcore.

Further features, objects, and advantages will either be specificallypointed out or become apparent, when for a better understanding of theinvention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which show apreferred embodiment thereof and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in side elevation of the front end of a tractor typevehicle suitable for mounting a front end bucket loader attachment, aportion of the radiator guard being cut away to show the radiatorstructure in an engine compartment embodying the present invention;

FIGURES 2, 3, and 4 are top plan, rear elevational, and right sideelevational views of a core guard mounted to the radiator structure;

FIGURES 5, 6, and 7 are demonstrative top plan, left side elevational,and left rear isometric views to show the general environment andtrajectory of fan-thrown particles; and

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary left side elevational viewcorresponding to and showing a detail of FIGURE 4.

More particularly in FIGURE 1 of the drawings, a front engine vehicleselected for purposes of illustration consists of a crawler tractor 10shown as having an en- 'gine compartment containing an engine 12. Theengine 12 operates a V-belt drive 14 to drive a pusher type fan 16 formoving air forwardly and outwardly through the radiatorguard 18. Aradiator 20, including a core 22-, is fixedly mounted on a main frame 24of the tractor forwardly of and in line with the fan 16. The radiatorcarries a radiator core guard 26 in protective relation ship between itand the fan 16. The front end bucket 1 loader attachment referred to isomitted to simplify the drawings.

The radiator core 22 is a conventional type having a plurality ofhorizontally disposed, relatively spaced apart copper fins 27, eachbeing provided with a series of spaced apart transverse openings orapertures. Such openings are in vertical alignment with similar openingsin adjacent fins and, together therewith, receive a series of verticalfluid conducting core tubes 28. The core tubes 28 are a copper alloysuch as brass and are disposed transverse to and held uniformly spacedapart by means of the fins 27.

Upper and lower tanks 30 and 32 'of the radiator are communicativelyinterconnected by means of the core tubes 28. The upper tank 30 has aninlet 34 connected to the pressure side of a conventional water pump,not shown, and the lower tank 32 has an outlet 36 connected to thesuction side of the water pump referred to.

The crawler tractor 10 is suspended at opposite sides upon crawler trackframes, of which the nearer one is indicated at 38 and each of whichincludes -a front idler 40 and an articulated, metal, endless track 42.

brackets 46 and the top edge of the upper section, the. upper section ismitered along a diagonal axis-1n the plane of the guard. A centersection of the guard has attachment brackets 50 at the opposite verticalside edges and includes another row of vertical tinned steel tubes 48b.A bottom section of the guard carries a. set of 7 attachment brackets 52at the opposite vertical edges thereof and includes a row of verticaltinned steel tubes 48c which are mitered along a diagonal line betweenthe bottom edge of the lower section and the respective brackets 52.

Sets of vertically aligned screws 54, according to FIG- URES 2 and 3,secure the wing-like attachment brackets to vertically disposed sidemembers 56 carried by the radiator 20. The core tubes, individuallyidentified by numerals'having separate subscripts 28a, 28b, and 28cforthe respective front, center and rear rows, are seen to v have aslightly staggered relation from row to row, but

the tubes have the same uniform center-.to-center spacing within eachrow. The guard tubes have the same uni-' form center-to-center spacingas the core tubes 28a, 28b,

.and 28c, and the guard tubes are each aligned in the vertical plane ofan individual tube of the rearrow 280.

In FIGURES 3 and 4, the upper section 'of the guard carries U-shapedsupport brackets 58 at the top edge, and the lower section carriesU-shaped support brackets 60 at the bottom edge. Clamping plate devices62 secure together the sections of the guard at their adjacent edges soas to interconnect and rigidity the structure. The devices 62 arereadily removed and greatly :facilitate the removal of the guard, onesection at a time, in ,cases where the entire guard must be removed fromthe engine compartment and in cases where two or perhaps only onesection must be removed for individual replacement of that section. V

In FIGURE 5, the diagonal arrows indicate generally the trajectory offan-hit particles in horizontal planes abovethe hub of the fan 16. Thecombination-of the gap G, between the core guard-26 and the radiatorcore 22 and the thickness T of the core guard 26 provide a sufiicientparallel walled, honeycomb eifect to protect the radiator core 22. Theguard tubes are generally indicated at 48 and the core tubes aregenerally indicated at 28. a

The same effect as the foregoing obtains in planes out of the horizontalwhich are parallel to the axis 64 indicated for the .fan. Abrasion anderosion are confined to the guard 26. I

In FIGURE 6, the diagonal arrows indicate the trajectory of fanhitparticles in vertical planes to the left of the axis 64 'ofthe fan 16.The trajectory is diagonally downwardly, whereas on the opposite side ofthe fan axis the trajectory will be diagonally upwardly in verticalplanes.

In FIGURE 7, which is similar to FIGURE 6 except for being isometric, itcan be seen graphically how elfective is the core guard of applicantwhen considering the diagonal trajectory coupled with the thickness ofthe core guard 26T and the gap G between it and the radiator core 22..Moreover, insofar as particles are concerned moving in vertical planes,theguard tubes48 are squarely in the path and block off the tubes 28cforming the rear row of coolant tubes of the radiator 20. All core tubesshown are made of flat walled tubing. g In FIGURE 8, the clamping platedevices 62 each include two square vertical plates 66 and 68 which fitbetween the fins 44 of adjacent guard sections at the front and rear ofthe guard. The plates 66 and 68 clamp against opposite sides of thepstubends of aligned tubes 4 48 in the guard, and. contain registeringapertures in which fits a common bolt 70. A nut 72 received on thethreaded end of the bolt 70 tightens the plates 66 and 68 and theradiator sections are thus maintained co-planar so that there 'iseffectively a single layer of tubes inthe guardl Following is an exampleof the specifications of the present core guard;

7 Number of sections 3.,

Thickness of guard 0.70 to 1.13 inches. Relation of radiator 20 and coreguard 26 Closely. spaced apart paral lel planes. 7

Axial thickness of gap be 7 tween radiator 20 and guard 26 0.06 inchminimum. Tinned steel guard 'tubes g 48 0.010 wall thickness. a Steelguard fins 44 4 inch center to center spacing.

Junctions between fins and; y tubes in guard 26 Oven-baked soldered.joints. Securement of wing attachrnent brackets to guard Welding orspot welding.

In onephysically constructed embodiment of .the invention applied to amodel TD-25 crawler tractor, the;

guard had an axial thickness of 1.13 inches and, without appreciabledamage to the guard, kept the radiator core structure free of erosionthrough 3,730 hours of tractor operation. The reason for this highendurance figure is not precisely known and is not believed to havecritical value for appreciating the invention. However, as a possibleaid to a better understanding, a theory has been advanced that thepusher fan blades drive foreignmatter toward the radiator core at someangle and in a swirling path which swirls generally in the direction offan rotation. Particles struck by the fan blade impinge on the coreguard, losing their initial force and velocity, and are then carriedthrough the radiator core by the air stream or else fall outside thecore area.

It is appreciated that, in the offset relationship described, the metalof the tubes and fins of the core guard structure need not be the sameas or compatible with the metal radiator structure itself, inasmuch asno interconnection is made between the-tubes and fins of the tworespective structures to one anoher. Within the actual radiatorstructure, the cooling fins have to be compatible metal to the coolantcarrying core tubes, both of themv being'nonferrous and containingconsiderable copper so that they can be readily soldered together. Onthe other hand, the core guard tubes and fins can be ferrous because 1the tubes carry no coolant and hence they are much harder and moreabrasion proof than the nonferrous radiator.

with side members and a'core therebetween, said core hav ing horizontalfins joined by rows of uniformly spaced apart verticaltubes, of whichthe individual tubes of each row have a-slightly staggered positionrelative to the individualtubes of the next row, and a pusher fan on theinner side of the radiator-structure, the combination with.

said radiator structure: a p

of a supported core guard for attachment to said radiator structure in aspaced-apart relation inwardly oif-' set from the radiator core andparallel to the plane thereof; I

said guard comprising a row of vertical tubes made of 'flat tubing andhaving their major cross-sectional axes parallel to the direction of airflow;

horizontally disposed, vertically spaced-apartfins holding said tubes inthe row with substantially the same tube center-to-center spacing as thetubes of the inher row of tubes in the core; and

attachment brackets connected between the core guard and theside'members whereby the core guard is supported in the relationdescribed and with each tube substantially aligned in the vertical planeof a tube in said inner row of tubes in the core, so as to beinterposed, and take the impact of fan-thrown particles directly uponthe fins and tubes of the guard.

Z. A cooling system comprising:

a radiator structure with side members and a core therebetween, saidcore having horizontal fins joined by rows of vertical tubes of whichthe individual tubes of each row are uniformly spaced apart and have aslightly staggered position relative to the individual tubes of the nextrow; i I

a pusher fan in a line confronting the core on the inner side of theradiator structure;

a supported, multi-section core guard for attachment to said radiatorstructure in a spaced-apart relation inwardly offset from the radiatorcore and parallel to the plane thereof;

each section of said core guard comprising a row of vertical tubes madeof tubing with opposite flat sides and having their majorcross-sectional axes parallel to the direction of air flow;

horizontally disposed, vertically spaced-apart fins holding said tubesin the row with substantially the same tube center-to-center spacing asthe tubes of the inner row of tubes in the core;

said sections being in the line between the core and the pusher fan; and

attachment brackets connected between the core guard and the sidemembers whereby the core guard is supported in the relation described,and .with each guard tube substantially aligned in the vertical plane ofa core tube in said inner row of tubes in the core, so as to beinterposed and block diagonally moving, fan-impacted particles directlyupon the fins and tubes of the guard.

3. A cooling system comprising radiator structure with side members anda core therebetween, said core having horizontal fins joined by rows ofvertical tubes of which the individual tubes of each row are uniformlyspaced apart and have :a slightly staggered position relative to theindividual tubes of the next row;

a pusher fan in a line confironting the core on the inner side of theradiator structure;

a supported core guard for attachment to said radiator structure in :aspaced-apart relation inwardly offset from the radiator core andparallel to the plane thereof, and in the line between the core and thepusher fan;

said guard comprising a succession of independent, vertically alignedsections;

each section of the guard comprising a row of vertical tubes made oftubing having opposite flat walls and having the major cross-sectionalaxes parallel to the direction of air flow, each tube in cross sectionextending for a major portion of, but being smaller in extent than, thethickness of the guard;

horizontally disposed, vertically spaced-apart fins holding said tubesspaced apart with substantially the same tube center-to-center spacingas the tubes of the inner row of tubes in the core;

attachment brackets connected between the sections of the core and theside members whereby the sections are supported in the relationdescribed and with each tube substantially aligned in the vertical planeof a tube in said inner row of tubes in the core, so as to beinterposed, and take the impact of fan-thrown particles directly uponthe fins and tubes of the guard; and

clamping plates between successive sections so as to be down between theadjacent fins and in engagement with the tubes so as to clamp thesections together.

4. a cooling system comprising radiator structure with side members anda core therebetween, said core having horizontal fins joined by rows ofvertical tubes of which the individual tubes of each row havesubstantially uniform center-to-center spacing and a slightly staggeredposition relative to the individual tubes of the next row, and a pusherfan on the inner side of the radiator structure, the combination withsaid radiator structure:

of a steel core guard for attachment to said radiator structure in a'gapped relation inwardly offset from the radiator core and parallel tothe plane thereof;

said guard comprising a row of thin vertical tubes made of flat walledtubing having their major crosssectional axes parallel to the direction,of air flow;

horizontally disposed, vertically spaced-apart fins holda ing said tubesin the row with substantially the same tube center-to-center spacing asthe tubes of the inner row of tubes in the core;

the gap between said core guard and radiator core being at leastapproximately 0.06 inch, and the width of the fins being approximately0.70 inch to 1.13 inches; and

attachment brackets connected between the core guard and the sidemembers whereby the core guard is supported in the relation describedand with each guard tube substantially aligned in the vertical plane ofa core tube in said inner row of tubes in the core, so as to beinterposed and to block the diagonally moving, fan-impacted particles,directly upon the fins and tubes of the guard.

5. A cooling system comprising radiator structure having a core providedwith horizontal copper fins joined by rows of vertical brass tubes ofwhich the individual tubes of each row have opposite flat faces and aredisposed in a slightly staggered position relative to the individualtubes of the next row;

a pusher fan in a line confronting the core on the inner side of theradiator structure;

a supported core guard for attachment to said radiator structure in aspaced-apart relation inwardly offset from the radiator core anddisposed in a first plane parallel to the plane of the core;

said guard comprising a plurality of vertical tubes disposed in saidfirst plane and made of fiat faced steel tubing having their majorcross-sectional axes parallel to the direction of air flow;

horizontally disposed, vertically spaced-apart steel fins soldered toand holding said tubes in the row with substantially the same tubecenter-to-center spacing as the tubes of the inner row of tubes in thecore; and

attachment brackets connected between the core guard and the radiatorstructure whereby the core guard is supported in the relation describedand with each guard tube substantially aligned in the vertical plane ofa core tube of said inner row in the core, so as to be interposed andblock the fan-impacted particles directly upon the fins and tubes of theguard.

6. For use in a cooling system between an outwardly blowing pusher fanand the core of a radiator located on the outer side of the pusher fan,the improvement comprising:

a core guard for attachment to the radiator in a spacedapart relationinwardly offset from the radiator core and disposed in a first planeparallel to the plane of the core;

said guard comprising a plurality of vertical tubes disposed in thefirst plane and made of flat tubing having their major cross-sectionalaxes parallel to the direction of air flow; V

horizontally disposed, vertically spaced-apart fins holding said tubesapart with substantially the same type center-to-center spacing as thetubes of the inner row of the tubes inthe core; and

attachment brackets for mounting the core guard on the radiator wherebythe core guard will be sup ported in the relation described;

said brackets being secured to and so arranged on the oppositevertically extendingside edges of the core guard that each tube wil besubstantially aligned in the vertical plane of a tube in the inner rowof tubes in the core. 7

. 7. For use in a cooling system between an outwardly blowing pusher fanand the core of a radiator located on the outer, side of the pusher fan,the improvement comprising: M r

a multi-section guard structure for attachment to the radiator in aspaced-apart relation inwardly ofiset from the radiator core anddisposed in a first plane parallel to the plane of the core;

each section of said guard structure comprising a plurality of verticaltubes disposed in the first plane and made of flat tubing having theirmajor crosssectional axes parallel to the direction of air flow;

horizontally disposed, vertically spaced-apart fins holding the tubes ofsaid sections in vertically aligned relation with substantially. thesame tube'center-tor center spacing as the tubes ofthe inner rowof'tubes in the core;

clamping plates between successive sections of the guard structure so asto interconnect and rigidity the structure in said'first plane.

8. For use in a cooling system between an outwardly blowing pusher fanand the core of a radiator located on the outer side of the pusher fan,the improvement comprising:

a steel core guard for attachment to the radiator in a spaced-apartrelation inwardly oflfset from the radiator core and parallel to theplane thereof;

said guard comprising a. succession of individually replaceable,vertically aligned sections each' having a row of vertical tubes made offlat tubing having their major cross-sectional axes parallel to thedirection of air flow;

are supported in the relation described so asto beinterposed, and takedirect impact of fan-thrownparticles upon the fins and tubes of theguard tor protecing the radiator core. i a

9. For use in a cooling system between ,an outwardly blowing pusher fanand the core of a radiator. located on the outer side of the pusher fan,the improvement com prising:

a multi-section core. guard structure for attachment to the radiator ina spaced-apart relation inwardly ofiset from the radiator core and in afirst plane 7 parallel to the plane of. the core;

each section of said structure comprisinga planar.

row of vertical tubes made of flat steel tubing and having their majorcross-sectional axes parallel to the direction of air flow; a

horizontally disposed, vertically spaced-apart steel fins Q in the firstplane soldered to and holding said tubes apart ,with substantiallyuniform tube center spacing; e attachment means individual to thesections of said structure for mounting the sections to the radiatorwhereby the core guard is supported in the relation described, so as tobe interposed and'cause the diagt onally moving fan-impaced particles tobe blocked directly by the fins andtubes of said, sectionsyand clampingplates between successive sections of the guard so as to interconnectand rigidity the structure in the first plane. V p 1 References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,389,749 9/1921 Froberg l1341,533,982 7 4/1925' Firkins -.134 X l 1,571,354 2/1926 Whitacre 165-134X 7 2,902,264 9/1959 Shick et a1. 165134 3,149,667 9/ 1964 Ast-rup165134 3,190,352 6/1965 Simpelaar 165l34 ROBERT A. OLEARY, PrimaryExaminer.

A. W. DAVIS, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN A COOLING SYSTEM COMPRISING RADIATOR STRUCTURE WITH SIDES MEMBERSAND A CORE THEREBETWEEN, SAID CORE HAVING HORIZONTAL FINS JOINED BY ROWSOF UNIFORMLY SPACED APART VERTICAL TUBES, OF WHICH THE INDIVIDUAL TUBESOF EACH ROW HAVE A SLIGHTLY STAGGERED POSITION RELATIVE TO THEINDIVIDUAL TUBES OF THE NEXT ROW, AND A PUSHER FAN ON THE INNER SIDE OFTHE RADIAL STRUCTURE, THE COMBINATION WITH SAID RADIATOR STRUCTURE: OF ASUPPORTED CORE GUARD FOR ATTACHMENT TO SAID RADIATOR STRUCTURE IN ASPACED-APART RELATION INWARDLY OFFSET FROM THE RADIATOR CORE ANDPARALLEL TO THE PLANE THEREOF; SAID GUARD COMPRISING A ROW OF VERTICALTUBES MADE OF FLAT TUBING AND HAVING THEIR MAJOR CROSS-SECTIONAL AXESPARALLEL TO THE DIRECTION OF AIR FLOW; HORIZONTAL DISPOSED, VERTICALSPACED-APART FINS HOLDING SAID TUBES IN THE ROW WITH SUBSTANTIALLY THESAME TUBE CENTER-TO-CENTER SPACING AS THE TUBES OF THE INNER ROW OFTUBES IN THE CORE; AND ATTACHMENT BRACKETS CONNECTED BETWEEN THE COREGUARD AND THE SIDE MEMBERS WHEREBY THE CORE GUARD IS SUPPORTED IN THERELATION DESCRIBED AND WITH EACH TUBE SUBSTANTIALLY ALIGNED IN THEVERTICAL PLANE TO A TUBE IN SAID INNER ROW OF TUBES IN THE CORE, SO ASTO BE INTERPOSED, AND TAKE THE IMPACT OF FAN-THROWN PARTICLES DIRECTLYUPON THE FINS AND TUBES OF THE GUARD.